Crouched over, ready to receive, 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm looks like she's waiting for the starter's gun to set her off on a marathon.

Thankfully she didn't have to run any marathons today with the heat in Melbourne topping 39C.

The Japanese veteran would have been very pleased to get out of Thursday’s second-round match in straight sets, a 6-2 7-5 victory over former world No.11 Shahar Peer of Israel.

The oldest woman in the draw, much has been made of Date-Krumm's first-round victory - her first in Melbourne since 1996. She was a semifinalist here back in 1994, that year Steffi Graf, the top seed, defeated her and went on to win the final.

Now when Graf and Date-Krumm speak, the former world No.1 German encourages her friend to hang up her racquet and start a family, but Date-Krumm isn't ready for that just yet.

It says a lot about Date-Krumm's longevity. Despite retiring and returning 10 years later, she's still capable of handing out a lesson or two.

An early break in the first set proved to be the perfect start for crowd favourite Date-Krumm. The diminutive Japanese chaser is a master at turning her opponent's pace on her.

She did this to perfection in the seventh game as she effected yet another break to comfortably take the opening set 6-2.

The second set was more of an arm wrestle as Date-Krumm and Peer traded breaks with alarming regularity. In all there were seven breaks of serve for the set as the sun beat down on the players.

"I was leading 3‑0, then she come back 4‑3 up, and then I had the big pressure," Date-Krumm said.

"It was a big challenge for me because my body, after when I was leading 3‑0, suddenly something big and strong on my back or something happen, and I felt so heavy my body and I couldn't move. But I tried to push myself."

Despite Peer getting the second set back on equal terms, Date-Krumm had one last trick up her sleeve; a stunning crosscourt backhand winner the final treat for the loyal crowd who braved the heat to watch the match on Court 6 and Date-Krumm didn't disappoint, closing out the match to keep her dream alive.

Q. Have they got in touch with you?
KIMIKO DATE KRUMM: If I see them, for example, this morning I met Iva Majoli, and she said, Good job yesterday. So keep going.
Everybody say to me, You are crazy. First word is always, You are crazy. But they support me a lot.
Rennae Stubbs, she's from here, so we meet every day. Then we talk a lot. Raymond is still playing doubles. When I see Steffi, of course, she say to me, You should stop now and make the baby (laughter). And Davenport, Lindsay, Mary Joe, Conchita, Arantxa Sanchez. I don't see so much Gaby. But many extennis player, yeah, talking and laughing, yes.

Ranked No. 100 at the start of the tournament and projected to climb into the top 80, the 42-year-old made history in the first round when she became the oldest player to win a match at the Australian Open (ousting No. 12 Nadia Petrova). Now Date-Krumm’s the oldest player to reach the third round of any Grand Slam tournament since Renee Richards did so as a 45-year-old at the 1979 U.S. Open.

Ranked No. 100 at the start of the tournament and projected to climb into the top 80, the 42-year-old made history in the first round when she became the oldest player to win a match at the Australian Open (ousting No. 12 Nadia Petrova). Now Date-Krumm’s the oldest player to reach the third round of any Grand Slam tournament since Renee Richards did so as a 45-year-old at the 1979 U.S. Open.

Remember the oldies who played well in their late 30s were generally flat hitters?
Rosewall, Connors

No surprise with Kimiko doing well. Hitting flat and low is the perfect foil for the modern topspin. Also, she rarely goes for angles, unless it is for a winner..
This seems to be her strategy:
flat and deep down the middle
flat and deep down the middle
......
short ball.. angled winner

Is there ever a chance of the women having a Senior tour similar to the decades-old men's one? I would love to see Graf, Seles, the Martinas, Mauresmo, even that hideous serve of Dementieva's on a regular basis. KDK has proven that age is little hindrance to playing at a reasonably high level. And she is older than almost all of the players I named.

LONDON (AP)—Playing an opponent less than half her age, veteran Japanese player Kimiko Date-Krumm needed just 44 minutes to defeat German teenager Carina Witthoeft 6-0, 6-2 in the first round of Wimbledon on Tuesday.

The 42-year-old Date-Krumm is the second-oldest player to have won a match at Wimbledon after Martina Navratilova, who was 47 when she reached the second round in 2004.

The 18-year-old Witthoeft was making her Grand Slam debut, while Date-Krumm's first appearance in a major tournament dates back to the 1989 French Open. Date-Krumm reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 1996, a few months after Witthoeft celebrated her first birthday.

Click to expand...

Date-Krumm, who is married to German race car driver Michael Krumm, lost in the third round at the Australian Open this year and lost her opening match at the French Open and at Birmingham in her warm-up tournament before Wimbledon.

But experience and age prevailed on Tuesday. Witthoeft struggled with her first serve and was broken six times on Court 14.

''I was surprised by the way she played, you can tell she is very experienced,'' Witthoeft said. ''I did not think she would be able to play so well, because she is so old.''

Amazing. She'll be all over the news over here again this morning. Sure wish she could have beaten Graf in that Wimby semifinal in '96. Graf complained about it getting dark after dropping the second set, got her wish and came out and beat Date the next morning.

Amazing. She'll be all over the news over here again this morning. Sure wish she could have beaten Graf in that Wimby semifinal in '96. Graf complained about it getting dark after dropping the second set, got her wish and came out and beat Date the next morning.

Click to expand...

i also wish she defeated graf !
(in that match i mean... 'cause she at least defeated her in fed cup, 12-10 in the 3rd)

she's in the 3rd round at 42 years old ! i think it's remarkable...(ok ok... 3, 2, 1, 0... until some of you say what a joke the WTA tour is... but still !)

even navratilova didn't do this, did she ?
(what could be the record ?... mustard are you into girls too ?)

Click to expand...

I'm into both genders, vive

Navratilova is the oldest winner of a women's singles match at Wimbledon, in 2004 at the age of 47. She lost in the second round, though. Kimiko seems to be the oldest woman to get to the third round of Wimbledon, as far as I know.

Edit: Just realised that your post is from January, and thus about the Australian Open. Navratilova never played at the Australian Open after 1989.

Now Date-Krumm’s the oldest player to reach the third round of any Grand Slam tournament since Renee Richards did so as a 45-year-old at the 1979 U.S. Open.

Click to expand...

wow, now 2 majors in one year she did this.

The average age on court in the 3rd round match on Saturday between Date & Serena is 36, that could be the oldest match in a major since the 70s/80s? Did BJ King play any 30 year olds when she reached semis of '83 W at age 39?

The average age on court in the 3rd round match on Saturday between Date & Serena is 36, that could be the oldest match in a major since the 70s/80s? Did BJ King play any 30 year olds when she reached semis of '83 W at age 39?

Click to expand...

King beat a 34 year old Rosie Casals and a 30 year old Wendy Turnbull at 1983 Wimbledon.

I hope she gives Serena a fight. It's a bore fest in WTA singles since Williams is on Goddess mode.. :lol:

Click to expand...

She might have a chance if it's Sleeperena that takes the field, and if Kimiko finishes her off before she wakes up. Unfortunately, taking out Sleeperena would be pretty tough itself, and she honestly hasn't looked very sleepy recently. Nice knowin ya, Ms. Date-Krumm

I hope she gives Serena a fight. It's a bore fest in WTA singles since Williams is on Goddess mode.. :lol:

Click to expand...

Didn't she have a great match with Venus a couple of years ago at Wimbledon? Of course, Venus isn't Serena, but Date is fantastic at redirecting big pace with her heavy racquet, which can make things interesting on grass.

No way I think she wins, but something like 3 and 3 with some good play would be nice to see. Her serve can't be that big, but is it Errani bad? I can't remember what Kimiko does on her serve.

She might have a chance if it's Sleeperena that takes the field, and if Kimiko finishes her off before she wakes up. Unfortunately, taking out Sleeperena would be pretty tough itself, and she honestly hasn't looked very sleepy recently. Nice knowin ya, Ms. Date-Krumm

Click to expand...

I just don't want to see another ladies singles tournament with a result everyone knew..

Didn't she have a great match with Venus a couple of years ago at Wimbledon? Of course, Venus isn't Serena, but Date is fantastic at redirecting big pace with her heavy racquet, which can make things interesting on grass.

No way I think she wins, but something like 3 and 3 with some good play would be nice to see. Her serve can't be that big, but is it Errani bad? I can't remember what Kimiko does on her serve.

Click to expand...

I don't remember watching a Date-Krumm match.

3 and 3 looks fine. I just don't want to see a bagle and breadstick....

Sloane's match against Serena isn't really an upset as she was injured and played 50%-75% of her full potential.

She might have a chance if it's Sleeperena that takes the field, and if Kimiko finishes her off before she wakes up. Unfortunately, taking out Sleeperena would be pretty tough itself, and she honestly hasn't looked very sleepy recently. Nice knowin ya, Ms. Date-Krumm

Click to expand...

She uses old school grass court tactics I love watching her the younger stars could learn from her. I got a feeling she will do ok against Serena tomorrow, she won't embarrass herself.